Typographical casting machine



July 29, 1930. D. s. KENNEDY TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Deb. 22, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 gmlmmml mmmmfi Ill Z m 2 1 a fi H "mm 0 7 1 4. v B n. :1 1 5mm 3 w l\ iLi E lwliilwwu fi w .lmmw Juli u 2 v J1 VENTOR 2 BY z I E AITTOR%YS July 29 1930. D. s. KENNEDY TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1928 INVENTOR W 1/ ATTORNE K July 29, 1930. i I s, KENNEDY 1,771,962

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1828 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 VENTOR b I B BY I I W i ifinm Patented July 2 9, 1939 as at DAVID S. KENNEDY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNGR TO MERGENTI-IALER LINO- F PEE TYPE COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW? YORK TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Application filed Decemberfiz, 1928. Serial No. 327,815.

This invention relates to typographical casting machines, such as linotype machines of the generalorganization represented in Letters Patent to 0.1 Mergenthaler No.

5 436,532, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, the composed line transferred to a socalled first elevator which 10 presents the linet-o the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices, and the matrices thereafter elevated and returned through distributing mechanism to the maga- 1 zine from which they started. Y

In these machines, the matrices are usually provided with two type producing characters or cavities, one a roman and the other an italic, these two characters being arranged in Q superposed relation on the matrix body and separated from each other byan intervening wall or partition, and it is the practice lines, separate leads or blank slugs of the required thickness must be inserted in the printing form between the successiveslugs,

this practice requiring considerable time and labor and entailing extra expense in the castmg, storage and handlnw of the leads.

To overcome these ditficulties, ithas been proposed to employ a special first elevator and a special mold for the casting of leaded slugs from 14 point two letter matrices (see the Murray Patent No. 1,567,857 of Dec. 29,

1925). In this patent, the rear wall of the first elevator is extended downwardly and acts as part of the casting mold to shut off communication between the superposed ma trix characters when the elevator presents the composed line in casting position,'the upper wall or cap portion of'the mold'being cut away at the front to receive the extended portion of the said rear wall. For a more detailed description of theconstructionand operation of the parts, reference may be had to compose the matrices in line at an upper or lower level, or both, as may be required, inorder to present the type producing characters of one kind or the other in registration with the mold slot. In casting'slugs from such two letter matrices, it is apparent that the width of the mold slot is limited by P the height of the matrix character's plus the thickness of the dividing wall or partition between the two superposed characters, as otherwise the mold slot would open into the unselected matrix cavities and allow the metal 5; to overflow from the mold, producing a defective slugor a squirt at the front. While ordinarily the thickness of a cast slug corresponds to the height of the type characters thereon, it is common practice to castthe slug of an addedthickness for spacing or leading purposes, say for example to cast. a line of 12 point type characters on a 14 point body slug.

In the caseof aline of 14 point characters,

however, there is no margin left for leading purposes, and hence it is only possible to cast a 14 point type line on a 14 point body, or substantially so.

In view of the foregoing limitations as to the width of the mold slot, when it is neces- 5 sary to produce a wide spacing of the type to the Murray patent above mentioned.

One of the objections which arises in connection with this scheme is the fact that the special first elevator, because of its downwardly extended rear wall, is incapable of Cooper ating with the regular or standard molds, ust

as the special cut-awaymold contemplated is incapable of cooperating with the regular or standard form of first elevator whose rear wall is not thus downwardly'extended. Consequently, in order to adapt the machine to the production of slugs of one kind orthe other, it has been necessaryto alter the con struction of the first elevator, and since the latter as ordinarily constructed is made up as a permanent unit, considerable expense, annoyance and delay are lnvolved in making the alterations required.

The present invention is intended to obviate these objections and contemplates certain improvements whereby the machine may be readily adapted to cooperate with a standard mold or a special mold as desired. To this end, it is proposedto provide for the first elevator head (that is to say, the line support proper) a set of two or more interchangeable rear walls,which differ in form to cooperate Withthe standarda-nd special molds, and to construct these rear walls so that one or another may be quickly and easily applied to or removed from the elevator head according to the particular mold in use. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, each of the rear walls is provided with a pair of parallel locking pins or bolts, which are adapted to extend through apertures formed in the front wall of the elevator head for engagement with an adjustable clamping bar operable by a thumb screw threaded into the same and bankin against the front wall.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown merely in preferred form and by way of example, but obviously many changes and variations may be made therein and in its mode of application which will still be comprised within its spirit. It should therefore be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a linotype machine equipped with the present improvements Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken through the parts in casting position and showing the first elevator head equipped with a rear wall to cooperate with a mold of regular construction;

Fig. 3 is a similar view on anenlarged scale showing the elevator head equipped with another rear wall to cooperate with a mold of special construction;

Fig. lis a perspective view of the first elevator head assembled;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the head unassembled; and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the special form of first elevator rear wall.

After a line of matrices has been composed in the assembler elevator A (Fig. 1), it is carried upward thereby between the depend ing fingers of the transfer carriage A and shifted horizontally into the so-called first elevator B, which then descends and presents the line in casting position between the vise jaws C. The molds employed for the casting of the slugs are mounted, as shown, in the rotatable gear wheel or disk E, the molds D of standard type comprising the body portion D permanently secured to the disk, the

cap portion D adjustable toward and from the body portion D and theintermediate removable liners D In the case of these standard molds see Fig. 2), the cap portion D is designed so as to fit tightly against the matrix line at the front, while in the special type of mold G (Fig. 3), the front of the cap portion G is cut away as in the Murray patent before referred to.

The capacity of the mold disk E is usually four molds, any one of which may be brought into action at will by adjusting the disk relatively to its driving mechanism. A special mold G might therefore be included in the number carried by the disk without seriously reducing the selection of standard molds afforded. The adjustment of the disk is eflected by a hand wheel E fast to the driving pinion E which latter is mounted as usual for axial movement on the shaft E and connected thereto by a clutch (not shown). Ac-

cording to this arrangement, which is common to all linotype machines, the driving pinion, while still retaining its mesh with the disk E, may be withdrawn forwardly far enough to break its engagement with the shaft E and then turned by the hand-wheel E to revolve the disk.

As ordinarily constructed, the first elevator comprises the relatively long verticallydisposed body portion B slidab-ly mounted in the vise frame 0 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l), and the horizontal head portion B the latter being provided with front and rear parallel walls B and 13 formed with complementary ledges 7) upon which a matrix line is supported. These walls are spaced the required distance apart by a block B located at the left or far end thereof and arranged to clear the vise jaws C when the elevator descends to the casting position. Matrices assembled at the lower level are supported in the elevator B by their upper projecting ears 00 upon the ledges I), while those assembled at the upper level are sustained by their lower projecting ears m upon a retractible rail 32 mounted in the front wall B of the elevator (see Fig. 3). The upper and lower characters of adjacent matrices may thus be'brought into horizontal alignment and the bottom edges of their routing notches m causedto register with the fixed or constant line d of the mold.

In Fig. 2, the first elevator is shown as oooperating with a standard mold D and in Fig. 3 with a special mold G, but as will be noted the only difference in the form of the elevator is in respect to the rear wall B According to the present invention, there are provided for the elevator head two distinct interchangeable rear walls, one of regular form to cooperate with the standard molds (Fig. 2), and the other of the special eX- tended form to cooperate with the special mold (Fig. 3), these walls being equipped with similar or like means of attachment whereby they may be quickly and easily removed and replaced without disturbing the other parts of the elevator head. In the present instance, the spacing block B is fastened independently of the rear wall 13* directly to the front wall B by means of the two binding screws B (Fig. 5).

The rear wall attaching means (as best shown in Figs. 8, 5 and 6) consists of a pair of elongated bolts or pins B spaced a given distance apart and projecting transversely from the inner face of each of the rear walls B to which they are permanently secured. The pins B at their free ends are formed with rounded heads or shoulders. B and are arranged to pass through corresponding holes or apertures B formed in-the spacing block B and the front wall The diameter of the apertures 13 corresponds to the diameter of the heads B so that the pins B maybe freely inserted and withdrawn in attaching or detaching either of the rear walls B The length of the pins B is such that the heads thereof selected rear wall is then secured in thisv position by a self-contained adjustable clamping device which is common to both the regular and special rear walls and which may be instantly manipulated to lock them in place or to release them preparatory to interchange.

This clamping device consists of a bar B formed in its lower edge with a pair of notches or recesses B and provided about midway its length with an adjusting screw B threaded transversely into the same and operable by a thumb-rod or handle B The recesses B correspond in size and spacing to the pins B so as to fit over them when the bar B is in its normal position, i. e. between the heads of the pins B and the front face of the wall 13 (see Figs. 2 and 4:). At such time, by turning the screw B in one direction with its rear end abutting against the wall B the bar B will be pressed forwardly against the heads of the pins 13' and through them clamp the rear wall securely.

against the block B When the screw is turned in the opposite direction, the clamping pressure is relieved and the rear wall maybe removed by lifting off the clamping bar or raising it far enough to clear the head portions B of the pins B While the invention is intended primarily to overcome the particular difliculties referred to, it will be found to be useful in any case where it is desired to remove the rear wall of the first elevator head, as for instance in facilitating the removal of a line of matrices which has become tightly lodged or jammed between the walls of the elevator.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with molds of different types, an elevator for supporting a matrixline in operative relation to one or another of said molds, a set of interchangeable rear walls differing in form to correspond with the respective molds and provided with like matrix supporting ledges to adapt them to cooperate with the-permanent front wall of the elevator, and means for detachably-connecting a selected one of said walls to the elevator for cooperation with the particular mold in use. 2. In a slug castingmachine adapted to be equipped with molds of diflerent types, an elevator for supporting a matrix line in operative relation to one or another of said molds, a set of interchangeable rear walls diifering in form to correspondwith the respective molds and provided with like matrix supporting ledgesto adapt them to cooperate with the permanent front wall of the elevator, and a clamping device operable at will for connectingand disconnecting a selected Wall'with and from the elevator.

3. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a plurality of molds of different types,

avmold carrieradjustable at will to bringone or another of the molds into action, an

elevator for supporting a matrix line in operative relation to the'act-ive mold, a set of interchangeable rear wallsdifl'ering in form to correspond with'the respective molds and provided with like matrix supporting ledges to adapt them to cooperate with the permanent front wallof the elevator, and means for detachably connecting a selected one ofsaid walls to the elevator for cooperation with the particular mold in use. I I

4. In a slugcasting machine, an elevator for supporting a matrix line in casting relation to molds of different types and embodying a fixed front wall, a set of interchangeable rear walls diifering in form to cooperate with the respective molds and provided with like matrix supporting ledges to adapt them to cooperate with the permanent front wall of the elevator, and means for detachably supporting one or another of said rear walls in cooperative relation to the fixed front wall, as and for the purpose described.

5. In a slug casting machine, an elevator for supporting a matrix line in casting relation to molds ofdiiferent types and embodying a fixed front wall, a set of interchangeable roar walls provided with corresponding pins.

or projections, and means arranged to engage said pins for detachably holding one or another of said rear walls in cooperative relation to the fixed front wall.

6.. In a slug casting machine, an elevator for supporting a matrix line in casting relation to molds of different types and embodying a fixed front wall, a set of interchangeable rear walls differing in form to cooperate with the'respective molds and provided with corresponding pins or projections, and unitary means common to both rear walls for detachably c'onnecting either to the fixed front wall.

7. In a slug casting machine, an elevator for supporting a matrix line in casting position and comprising a fixed front wall, a re movable rear wall, and quick-detachable means operable at the front of the elevator for connecting the rear wall to the fixed front wall.. I

8. In a slug casting machine, an elevator for supporting a matrix line in the casting position and comprising a fixed front wall, a removable rear wall, an intermediate spacing block fastened to the front wall, and (puck-releasable means carried by the fixed front wall for clamping the rear wall firmly against said spacing block in parallel relation to said fixed front wall.

9. In a slug casting machine, an elevator for supporting a matrix line in the casting position and comprising a fixed front wall, a removable rear wall, and an adjustable clamping bar for holding the rear wall detachably in place.

10. In a slug casting machine, an elevator for supporting a matrix line in the casting position and comprising a fixed front wall, a removable rear wall provided with a pair of integral pins projecting forwardly through apertures in the front wall, an adjustable clamping bar engaging said pins for holding the rear wall detachably in place, and a rotatable screw mounted in said bar and arranged to abut against the fixed front wall.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed.

DAVID S. KENNEDY. 

